Tips for making any camp a smooth operation and a joyful place to be, whether it is your camp or one you are visiting, two people or a thousand. And yes, I'm a little uptight about a few things, but I'm interested in what other people find good and helpful or bad and annoying. AKA Camp Mom Bitch Thread.
A few of my Hot Buttons:
Ask before you light up anything in someone else's camp. We finally had to solve this by making our little camp strictly no smoking/no smudging. I know everyone should have their own butt tins, but even in our no smoking camp we have a sealed ashtray thingy so visitors can put their ciggies out.
If you bring a guest to camp, you are responsible for them and their MOOP. I hate getting up and having to pick up the shade area so I can sit down because visitors trashed our space. And a side note: if the shade area looks "residential" rather than "party central", find out if you are having a great time next to someone's tent. Especially if that someone is the one whose shade area you are sitting in! Not everyone sleeps at the same time runs both ways.
Don't raid coolers and booze stashes without permission. That's just ass-hattery. And put it back the way you found it; if the cooler is covered and in the shade, be sure it is covered and in the shade once you have that PBR in your dusty paws.
If you use it, put it away. I know people who are great at LNT until they hit camp. Clutter + unexpected high winds = MOOP. Yes, even in a sheltered carport! Plus it makes clean up and packing quicker and easier.
Don't park/lean your bike on a tent or guy-wires.
A few of my Hot Buttons:
Ask before you light up anything in someone else's camp. We finally had to solve this by making our little camp strictly no smoking/no smudging. I know everyone should have their own butt tins, but even in our no smoking camp we have a sealed ashtray thingy so visitors can put their ciggies out.
If you bring a guest to camp, you are responsible for them and their MOOP. I hate getting up and having to pick up the shade area so I can sit down because visitors trashed our space. And a side note: if the shade area looks "residential" rather than "party central", find out if you are having a great time next to someone's tent. Especially if that someone is the one whose shade area you are sitting in! Not everyone sleeps at the same time runs both ways.
Don't raid coolers and booze stashes without permission. That's just ass-hattery. And put it back the way you found it; if the cooler is covered and in the shade, be sure it is covered and in the shade once you have that PBR in your dusty paws.
If you use it, put it away. I know people who are great at LNT until they hit camp. Clutter + unexpected high winds = MOOP. Yes, even in a sheltered carport! Plus it makes clean up and packing quicker and easier.
Don't park/lean your bike on a tent or guy-wires.
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Utah
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Re: Camp etiquette
Sun, March 30, 2008 - 1:41 PMDon't Speed through sombody else's camp on your bike during any time of day... That goes double in the middle of the night when your on your bike on the way to the porta-potts... somebody rode through our camp last year in middle of the night while i was in my tent getting some stuff.... the person almost ran over my legs and snapped two guy lines on the tent across from me... it was mega rude!
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Re: Camp etiquette
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 7:50 PM<<dont sell or buy drugs.>>
don't sell or buy anything! it's fun!
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 9:47 AMHI all, first post in this tribe :) This will be my third year and one of my biggest hot buttons was pushed last year, repeatedly. Don't just take things without asking. Our camp is extremely generous and we all are pretty laid back about sharing, but the line got crossed last year when a couple people would just go into campers and tents and help themselves to bottles of booze, clothes, even bikes...and never ask anyone, or even leave a note that they were taking something. Now we will give the shirt off our back....and have a couple times lol...but please do at least ask before going into private spaces.
Oh, and don't show up at the end of the event, after we have all been packing and cleaning for 6 straight hours in the dust storm and whine b/c you are tired after wandering the playa looking for the bike you laid down in the storm the night before. Bad timing and so rude, as you did nothing to clean up after yourself the entire week. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 10:58 AMAlleahanna,
That's a bummer. Sorry to hear your camp was violated like that.
When someone goes into your personal tent or vehicle and takes something, that's not "helping themselves" or clueless borrowing that's jut plain stealing. I really can't imagine anyone thinking it was ok to walk tent to tent like it was a shopping mall. Rummaging through someone's belongings when they are not present is universally understood to be wrong. I think those people knew exactly what they were doing and your camp was just targeted for theft. It wouldn't be the only camp that has been. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 1:38 PMI guess in some ways it was our fault in that we invited these few individuals to camp with us and should have have setup firmer boundaries earlier in the week. I think I would not have been so upset if it had been random theft, but when they were confronted, they honestly appeared perplexed. Like there was something wrong with us for caring that they had helped themselves. I don't think they had a very firm grasp on the whole self-reliance idea and that it applies within camps also.
Oh, and that leads to another thing. Self-reliance within a camp. Although a camp may have a joint kitchen, shower, whatever, everyone still should be contributing and making sure they have everything they need. Sure we watch out for each other and will help fill in any gaps, but showing up with minimal water or supplies...please.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 11:32 AMA few (ok, a lot) of mine:
FOR CAMP VISITORS:
-Don't, under any circumstances, dip your sweaty sarong/hat/bandanna into anyone else's cooler. That's fucking disgusting. You may instead ask for a cup of water with which to pour over your sarong/hat/bandanna/self. Or go back to camp and use your own.
-Don't use another camp's shower without asking. (Seriously, this has happened almost every year, we find some randomite using our shower.) If you DO get permission to use the shower, take your own gray water back away with you.
-Don't show up at mealtime in a stranger's camp and sit there with gigantic shiny puppy eyes, eyeballing the food. If you DO show up and want food, be prepared to bring your own utensils if someone invites you to stay for dinner, and at least have something to contribute (even if it's just an amazing story to tell over dinner). Moochers suck.
-If you're the type who likes to wander into more "residential" (smaller, non-theme camps) and hang out/meet people/use the shade, at LEAST be polite. Say hi. Get to know the people. Don't just be that random person napping in the shade, and no one knows who the hell you are.
VISITING THEME CAMPS:
-DON'T ask for a cup, if you want booze/drinks/whatever. Bring your own. In fact, bring a few extra in case other folks don't have cups. Reusable cups are good gifts.
-DON'T leave moop. Just because a camp is a theme camp and providing a service, does NOT mean that said theme camp is also providing garbage service. If you see a trash can behind the bar/infrastructure, it's not OK to just throw stuff in there. In fact, if you see MOOP in a theme camp, why not just pick it up and do them a favour? Help them have a good experience as they put all their time & effort & money into providing you some awesomeness.
WITHIN YOUR OWN CAMP:
-Don't fuck your camp mates, if you're not already fucking them pre-playa. Seriously. This just leads to drama. In-camp drama sucks. There's 40,000 other people on the playa who aren't in your camp. Find one/two/twenty, and fuck them. Don't shit where you eat.
-If you're showing up late or leaving early, and therefore not helping with camp infrastructure setup/teardown, there's several ways you can still be a rockstar. If you're showing up later in the week, bring fresh fruit/ice cream/stuff that's perishable to contribute to camp. If you're leaving early, still do your personal hour or two of camp-and-in-general de-MOOPing. Leave your friends beer/booze/extra water if they're low/tasty snacks. Don't, however, leave those extra 20 packages of Shrimp-and-MSG Cup O'Noodles that you know your camp full of organic veganberries will ever eat.
-Keep an eye out for your campmates. If you see someone you don't recognize rifling through a campmate's tent, or the common areas, go say hi. You don't have to confront them or be all "hey, you don't belong!", but a friendly "Hi, I'm ____! Haven't seen you around before! What's your name?" will either allow you to meet a friend of one of your campmates, or freak the hell out of whatever randomite is trying to steal shit from your camp. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 4:34 PM"Don't shit where you eat"
HeatherLyn,
I know what you are saying, but, something about "Don't shit where you eat" in combo with "don't fuck a camp mate" Is a very interesting analogy. You seem to have a very interesting mind. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 4:39 PMI would have to agree when I fuck it does not create drama (at least it hasn't for a very long time now) so it is not like shiting at all. (I like to think of it as loving personally). -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 11:44 AMScott: "I would have to agree when I fuck it does not create drama "
Bob: "something about "Don't shit where you eat" in combo with "don't fuck a camp mate" Is a very interesting analogy. You seem to have a very interesting mind."
Actually that's a really, really, really, really old analogy. I'm very surprised neither of you have heard that before. :) "don't shit where you eat" has been used for everything from "don't fuck your co-worker" to "don't fuck your neighbor". It's one of those common sense things reminding you that mixing the complex and intimate with something critical to your daily life (your job, your housing, etc.) isn't the best plan and potentially comprises both. She's not saying that having sex is like shitting, she's just repeating age-old advice. Advice that's often been said by many people who have theme camps. :) -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 11:54 AMYou can't fuck your co-workers? Great, now you tell me.
Seriously, I know what she was saying and I have heard both phrases before. Just never heard the 2 of them together before.
Maybe I am just too visual. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 2:02 PMBob,
funny, coz the only time I've heard "don't shit where you eat" used has been in relation to sex. usually "don't sleep with your coworkers".
don't shit where you eat = don't make a mess where you make your bread and butter.
even funnier, whenever I've heard the idea used in relation to camping it's never the simple "don't shit where you eat". it's always "make camp at least 70ft from your water source" or "dig your latrine trench 150-200ft from trails, camp, or water source". *L* you'd think that *would* be a case where they'd use the catchy phrase. ;)
and I'm sure there's a word for the shit+sex thing, but it's totally eluding me at the moment.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 11:49 AMI Just want to add, IF you're nude, PLEASE don't sit on someone's chair, bed, etc, without putting something under your naked ass,
one of the most disgusting things, not to mention of health concern is to have a nekkid sweaty ass on your camp furniture....
have a sarong or towel or something with you if you plan to have a seat on someones furniture....
Bare -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 11:51 AMOne of my friends had someone sit nude on her cooler. She felt like she had to burn it ;-) But please, do be aware about "leaving a trace" wherever you sit down! -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 3:29 PMAhem, there is a burner we know slightly who visited our camp one evening. We didn't notice until the morning, but our personal playa name for him is now "SkidMark." We didn't burn the chair, that would have been toxic, but we did give it to Bucky, the inanimate skeleton who doesn't care about bodily waste as unintentional gift. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 3:33 PM"our personal playa name for him is now "SkidMark." "
Anti M, I might've just thrown up a little in my mouth reading that. ;) but really, really funny.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 12:01 PMTo add to Bare's post... use your OWN towel or sarong under your naked ass. do NOT just grab whatever is handy.
I once went to get my sarong and found someone else sitting on it, totally naked, in the hot sun. I left it there and didn't use it again until I could wash it because I couldn't bear the though of putting someone else's ass sweat and grime around my body afterward. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 1:36 PMOr better yet, if some nekid-assed hooligan jumps on your custom big wheel with a leopard print faux fur banana seat and leaves snail trails or penile cheese, deal with it right then and there. Stop them and explain your disgust to the offender. Educate on the spot.
Talking about these playa gems here and now, though entertaining as a bag full of crazed weasels, is not going to do much in terms of future prevention. The pants canon will. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 2:24 PM"Or better yet, if some nekid-assed hooligan jumps on your custom big wheel with a leopard print faux fur banana seat and leaves snail trails or penile cheese, deal with it right then and there. Stop them and explain your disgust to the offender. Educate on the spot."
Token,
good point. :) at the time I was too icked out and didn't want to cause a scene to embarrass the person (there was a large group sitting around and I couldn't see a way to address it quietly), but I agree that telling them then and there is best if possible.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 1:43 PMI have found that most people behave just fine out on the playa. As a matter of fact they are much nicer than my real world neighbors.
In the seven years that I have gone to BM, I have not found any need to create extra rules for my camp. Common sense has worked wonders.
I actually like fewer rules, but that is me. Others may need more structure.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 2:34 PMAhhh, No Doubt, I agree with ya token,, most everyone I know on the playa is most usually on the same page, of course barring "chemicals" of any kind.... add chemicals get instant stupid.... in some case anyway...
I am one that is not at all embarrassed to confront IF it's needed, I will and have thrown a towel at someone that appears to be taking a seat bare assed. if they are disrespecting the camp or campmates I am the one to speak up
we have had MANY people in our camp through the years, Most of them have contributed in some way or another, but the few, over the years, that have come with that sense of "radical self Entitlement" have been asked to leave.....
and I am not afraid to say something if the need arises...
it's all in the presentation.....
Bare -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 2:54 PM"add chemicals get instant stupid."
Bare,
as an aside, I have to say I sometimes wish there could just be a substance ban from BM and BM events. It would so significantly cut down on the stupidity, rudeness, and general unpleasantness. ;) Most of the bad stories include the phrase "I was (they were) really drunk/high/tweaked/tripping".
Why did you lose your favorite coat/camera/bike? You left it in some camp that you now can't remember what or where because you were really effed up.
Why did you find yourself an hour walk from camp, at night, tired, freezing, with no coat and no water, having no idea where you are? Because you got really effed up.
Why did you ruin the night for your friends? They had to spend the whole night babysitting you because you were really effed up.
Why did that chick think it was ok to climb on your art and knock it over? Because she was really effed up.
Why did that guy think it was ok to set off flaming fireworks next to your flammable tent? Because he was really effed up.
Why did that person dump their trash bag into the porto-potty, causing a 2hour backup while it was cleaned out by hand? Because she was really effed up.
Why did that person come in and take your six pack of beer? Because he was really effed up. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 4:13 PMYES! People under the influence of Bacon are known to do all kinds of irresponsible things.
Bacon should be banned from the Playa and confiscated at the gate!
Bacon is the single largest killer in America and it must be stopped!
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I love my drugs. I go everywhere with my drugs.
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I have the small round drugs to keep me from hurting myself...
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I have the big round drugs that keep me from hurting others ...
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I have the purpole and pink capsule so I can keep eating hot peppers and garlic ...
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I have the big round pink drugs so I don't sneeze ...
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I have the tiny oval drugs for when I freak out ...
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I have the puf-puf aerosol for when bad people burn sage and I can't breathe ...
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I have the sqirt-sqirt drug so I don't snivel
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... and I love strong American Ale ...
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I love my drugs ... -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 4:42 PMToken,
see there are "professionals" and there are "amateurs".
professionals can take 3 different pills and still conduct themselves respectfully, hold a general conversation, and avoid pissing on themselves.
amateurs mix downers with alcohol and wonder why they pass out, or drink 8 beers on an empty stomach at noon then vomit on your chair.
I have these little fantasies where amateurs aren't allowed to imbibe while at BM. They're given a little wristband and a sign to hang around their neck that says "don't feed the animals". ;)
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Re: Camp etiquette
Sat, April 26, 2008 - 7:56 PMI agree. The sad part is... anyone can be a professional..they just choose not to. You don't need lots of drug or drinking experience to do it right.. you just need tact and self awareness.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 7:47 PMI just go ask Alice and she tells me where the rabbit hole is....
Me and the hooka smoking caterpillar are buds, <grin> and those damn chessmen, tryin to tell me where to go.... Don't listen to THEM, only Alice knows....
now where's my small pill.....
B....
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 11:08 PMi find a good trainin' does wonders for inner camp understanding of things. House rules, kitchen proceedures, load in and pack out, emergency proceedures, shower protocol, saftey of persons and property-- everyone can really be on the same page if well before playa the meetings/ email conversations are had with everyone, and repeated to the late signer uppers.
I in LA, and several other folks in other towns conduct a yearly "virgins meeting" right before the event. It does wonders to sooth virgin angst and aquaint them with the principles of BM,. An informed and principled virgin is a delightful experience out there! (now where do I find all those undelightful party minded yay-hoos? I'd luuuuve to give them an earful of the 10 principles and more...)
As for proper human behavior on Playa and at other peoples camps, well, that does seem to be, as stated so well above, subject to brain boggling agents and how well yo'Mama taught you manners. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 9:29 AM>now where do I find all those undelightful party minded yay-hoos?
Frat houses? College campuses?
Frankly, I don't think that the yahoos can really be tamed. If they're coming for beer and titties, by god they're just gonna show up in their jeans and CruiseAmerica RV and drink beer and look at titties.
If they don't feel a part of the event, if they have no emotional/participatory investment in Burning Man, they're just going to come and TAKE, and litter, and not give a fuck. It's just a festival in the desert, right? Unfortunately you can't browbeat someone into caring. They either will, or they won't. Sure, you can have education available to them if they choose to participate, but most of them don't care. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 10:48 AMYou can't ever determine who is going to be camped next door, partying across the street, or passing through your camp. And while it is a good thing to stand up for yourself and your camp (mates), sometimes it is better to focus on yourself.
An ounce of prevention and preparation can go a long way. If you don't want someone using something, put it away. If you are the kind of person worried about folks sitting on your things, pack an extra cloth to cover them, or post a note in sharpie on the seat of the chair like "no bare asses".
And more than that... Lead by example. Do all the things that you would like to have done to you, for you, and around you. (And if you are shy in person like I am, this actually makes it easier to step outside of your shell a little and make new friends.)
Just my two cents... -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Camp etiquette
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 11:23 AMI still think a bare-assed person should not leave brown surprises in other peoples' camp chairs. we are adults and potty-trained supposedly. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 10:44 AMYou can just make a sign:
Keep your asshole off my barstool"
My only problem I have ever had at my camp is keeping things tidy.
Friends have not kept things tidy. My first year I was surprised that my vet friends left stuff out to get mooped away by the wind every day.
Its also nice to keep camp tidy for aesthetic reasons....nobody wants to hang out in a messy camp!! -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 2:04 PMDon't borrow stuff in your camp with out asking.
Two examples:
Woke up one morning to find a camp mate in a tizzy as her bicycle was missing. She had to be somewhere across the city and was going to be late. Turns out a fellow camp mate had woken up early and grabbed it to go to the porta- potties. They were back in 20 minutes but it caused unnecessary hysteria.
One year I brought a tank of propane like you attach to a BBQ grill. I had no grill but I suspected it would come in handy. One night I'm out at the airport and lo and behold they need a propane tank for the BBQ to cook a load of food. So I drag a guy back to my camp at 430 and Esplanade and we can not find the tank anywhere. Come Monday when we are breaking down our camp, a camp mate comes walking out of there tent with it. They had used it all week as ballast to weigh their tent down. -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Wed, April 2, 2008 - 2:09 PM"One year I brought a tank of propane like you attach to a BBQ grill. I had no grill but I suspected it would come in handy. One night I'm out at the airport and lo and behold they need a propane tank for the BBQ to cook a load of food. So I drag a guy back to my camp at 430 and Esplanade and we can not find the tank anywhere. Come Monday when we are breaking down our camp, a camp mate comes walking out of there tent with it. They had used it all week as ballast to weigh their tent down. "
Oh damn! Thats all kinds of messed up. I'd been one pissed Q-in fool.
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Re: Camp etiquette
Sat, April 26, 2008 - 3:03 PMHonestly, all of the above are not only great points (especially to a virgin), but fun to read! I promise not to shit where I eat, leave a skid mark on a cooler, or take three pills and wet my pants. As for fucking a camp-mate, I'm really hoping that someone takes pity on a virgin, but in the unlikely event that it happens, maybe it will be from someone else's camp! -
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 9:17 AM<<As for fucking a camp-mate, I'm really hoping that someone takes pity on a virgin,>>
Sigh. Life note: there's no such thing as a pity fuck. Either put yourself out there as someone awesome, vibrant, fun and authentic, someone who's totally worth sleeping with, or just resign yourself to a life of celibacy.
This message brought to you by the Center For Education of Clueless Men, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the state of Wake the Fuck Up!
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Re: Camp etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 10:00 AMIf it's any help, in a Zen way.. I never had it better, as far as finding willing partners, until I stopped wanting to get laid and just interacted with people as people.
Amazing how that takes away all the bullcrap that prevents us from connecting :)
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